An apparatus for electrochemical modification of liquid streams employing an electrolytic cell having an oxidation site defined by an anode, an anode compartment comprising liquid electrolyte anolyte where oxidation is effected, a cathode compartment comprising liquid electrolyte catholyte where reduction is effected, a cathode comprising conducting cathode particulates forming a cathode particulates bed and a current feeder device in at least intermittent contact with said cathode particulates where the cathode particulates are in motion and the particulates motion is substantially independent of bulk electrolyte flow, a separator which confines the cathode particulates to the cathode compartment, constrains electrolyte flow through the cathode particulates bed and permits ionic conduction of current between the anode and cathode, a cathode particulates conveyance system arranged to manipulate cathode particulates motion including a magnetic subsystem having at least one source of magnetic field arranged to interact with cathode particulates via magnetic field interaction.
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1. An apparatus for electrochemical modification of liquid streams employing an electrolytic cell which comprises: an oxidation site defined by an anode, an anode compartment comprising liquid electrolyte anolyte where oxidation is effected, a cathode compartment comprising liquid electrolyte catholyte where reduction is effected, a cathode comprising conducting cathode particulates forming a cathode particulates bed and a current feeder device in at least intermittent contact with said cathode particulates where the cathode particulates are in motion and the particulates motion is substantially independent of bulk electrolyte flow, a separator which confines the cathode particulates to the cathode compartment, constrains electrolyte flow through the cathode particulates bed and permits ionic conduction of current between the anode and cathode, a cathode particulates conveyance system that manipulates cathode particulates motion, a system for circulation of the liquid streams through the electrolytic cell, and a system for conducting unidirectional electric current supported by the liquid streams from the anode through the anolyte and the separator and into the catholyte and to the cathode particulates and to the current feeder device during the contact between the cathode particulates and the current feeder device;
wherein the cathode particulates conveyance system that manipulates cathode particulates motion includes a magnetic subsystem comprising at least one source of magnetic field arranged to interact with the cathode particulates via a magnetic field interaction.
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This application is a divisional application of the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/623,658 filed on 16 Jan. 2007 (issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,967,967 on Jun. 23, 2011) which is incorporated here by reference in its entirety. Furthermore, this application is related to the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/020,447 filed on Feb. 3, 2011 (a divisional application of the aforementioned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/623,658) which is also incorporated here by reference in its entirety.
Parts of this invention were conceptualized developed and reduced to practice using US government funding under National Institutes of Health (NIH) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant 1 R43 ES013622-01A1. The US government has certain rights in this invention.
The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for modification of liquid streams which contain organic and/or inorganic impurities. More precisely, the invention is concerned with an electrolytic cell technology with potentials to achieve reduction of contaminants commonly found in liquid waste streams and economically feasible extraction of selected dissolved contaminants for commercial applications.
Contamination of liquid streams with various organic and inorganic pollutants is a serious environmental problem affecting the quality of the global environment and represents a significant threat to human health and safety. Substantial heavy metal contamination of aquatic environments arises from commercial mining and metal extraction processes, surfaces modification and protection processes, or communal and industrial waste sites resulting from a variety of active or defunct industrial fabrication and manufacturing activities. Similarly, significant organic water pollutants, like aliphatic, aromatic, or halogenated hydrocarbons and phenols, are frequently associated with oil, gas, and coal exploration, extraction and refining, chemical industry, or large-scale farming and food processing.
In addition to potential for significant environmental damage, polluted liquid streams represent sources of desirable raw materials like heavy metals and metal oxides. For example, the Berkeley Mine Pit in Butte, Mont. alone represents an estimated 30 billion gallons of acid mine drainage which contains ˜180 ppm of copper along with other metals and thus could yield up to 22,000 tons of pure copper by use of a small treatment facility.
The prevailing method of removal of heavy metal ions from liquid solutions is chemical precipitation. This process is burdened by complexity, high cost, clear preference for extremely large facilities and high-volume operations, and little selectivity towards targeting and separating specific metallic pollutants. One fundamental disadvantage is the resulting byproduct of considerable volumes of heavy sludge which is toxic due to contamination with a mixture of toxic heavy metals. The sludge mandates further processing and costly long term disposal as a highly toxic waste. Many similar disadvantages burden alternative heavy ion removal methods that may incorporate: filtration, ion exchange, foam generation and separation, reverse osmosis, or combinations of listed processes.
Modification of polluted liquid streams can be accomplished efficiently using electrochemical processes. Electrochemical methods of reduction of metal ions or oxidation of organic pollutants do not suffer from described disadvantages of complexity, strong preference for large scale operations, or toxic byproducts. Advanced electrochemical methods like Moving Bed Electrode (MBE) electrolytic technology in various forms is relatively efficient even in the cases of comparatively low contaminant concentrations of about 1000 ppm.
Liquid stream modification using a Spouted Electrode Technology (SET) variant of the moving bed cell is well-known to prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,272,333 to Scot et al. discloses a method of moving bed electrolysis where motion of a particulate bed electrode; imposed by the circulation of electrolyte, prevents electrode particulates aggregation and maintains at least intermittent contacts between the moving particulates bed electrode and current feeder. Scot et al. report copper, zinc, cobalt, and manganese ions reduction from electrolytes with varying pH values.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,107 to Campen et al. discloses a process of electrochemical purification of “streams which contain organic and/or inorganic impurities”. The disclosed process utilizes a reactor with “a water-containing reaction zone which comprises providing a packed bed of activated carbon, applying an electrochemical potential across said packed bed and simultaneously feeding a reactant selected from the group consisting of ozone and hydrogen to said packed bed.”
Efficient electrowinning of zinc in an electrowinning cell using “moving” or “moving packed bed” SET electrode is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,635,051 to Salas-Morales et al. from predominantly acidic electrolytes. Related U.S. Pat. No. 5,958,210 to Siu et al. discloses electrowinning of zinc in an SET electrowinning cell from alkaline electrolytes. Both patents also disclose an industrial scale eight-draft-tubes parallel electrowinning cell structure shown in side elevation in corresponding
Spiegel et al. in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,996 report purification of metal and toxic organic compounds from polluted aqueous waste streams using “an advanced electrolytic cell technology employing a dynamic spouted electrode” SET device. Spiegel et al. also disclose a four-independent-cells device in which electrolyte is pumped in a parallel manner into the cells and returned to the reservoir.
A simplified schematic side view cross-section of a SET cell of prior art is given in
An important common feature of the prior art SET devices and processes is the fact that actuation of the electrode bed is achieved by vigorous circulation of electrolytes generally achieved by strong pumping action of various external pumping systems. This feature, clearly motivated by simplicity of the mechanical design, is inherently suboptimal because the achievement of optimal liquid stream flow rate is sacrificed to the requirement for vigorous spouted bed mixing and circulation. The systems of the prior art frequently comprise relatively powerful pumping stations, like one denoted by the reference numeral 10 (corresponding reference numeral 31 in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,635,051 and 5,958,210).
In addition to higher capital cost and higher energy consumption, pumping stations scaled up to sufficiently mix and circulate particulates beds in SET cells additionally burden the overall efficiency of the liquid stream modification processes by limiting the reactor residence time of treated liquid stream volumes. The devices and methods in accordance with the present invention are designed to essentially decouple the fluid flow and motions of the SET. This novel characteristic of the devices designed in accordance with the present invention allows for independent optimization of the SET motions necessary for improved overall efficiency of the liquid stream modification processes and efficient electrolysis, prevention of particulates aggregation, and dendrite formation, and treated fluid circulation optimized for sufficient reactor resident time necessary for efficient liquid stream treatment even in cases of streams comprising sub 10.0 ppm concentrations of treatment target materials.
The present invention considers an apparatus and a method for electrochemical modification of liquid streams employing an electrolytic cell which comprises a cathode comprising conducting cathode particulates forming a cathode particulates bed, and a current feeder device in at least intermittent contact with the cathode particulates. The cathode particulates are in motion and the particulates motion is substantially independent of bulk electrolyte flow. A separator confines the cathode particulates to the cathode compartment, constrains bulk electrolyte flow through the particulate cathode bed and permits ionic conduction of current between the anode and cathode. A separate cathode particulates conveyance system drives and manipulates cathode particulates motion.
The method of present invention includes: circulating liquid stream undergoing modification through said electrolytic cell, activating cathode particulates conveyance system to form the moving cathode particulates bed immersed in the catholyte and transporting the cathode particles bed substantially independently from catholyte circulation, bringing cathode particulates bed in at least intermittent contact with the current feeder device, energizing the system for conducting unidirectional electric current to drive current supported by the liquid streams from the anode through the anolyte and the separator and into the catholyte and to the cathode particulates and to the current feeder device during the contact between the cathode particulates and the current feeder device and sustaining the achieved current conduction long enough to electrochemically react at least detectable quantities of targeted constituents of liquid streams undergoing modifications.
Like reference numerals identify like parts throughout the drawings.
A simplified schematic side view cross-section of the electrolytic cell of in accordance with current invention is given in
The principle difference in the catholyte flow 30 and cathode particulates convection 120 between the prior art cells with spouting tubes 300 (“draft tube 15” in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,635,051 and 5,958,210) and the electrolytic cell with a separate cathode particulates conveyance system 100 of current invention is given schematically in
A variety of electroactive solutions comprising solvent, electrolyte, and possibly supporting electrolytes meeting chemical and electrochemical potential window stability criteria will work with the present technology. The anolyte and catholyte can be the same or different depending on the targeted application. Specifically, initial demonstrative work for reducing the technology to practice employed a single shared electrolyte for anolyte and catholyte. A synthetic acid mine drainage solution was prepared using water as the solvent as this represents the most common solvent.
The ionically conducting species of the electrolyte were provided by added ionizing compounds which dissolved in the solvent. While a plethora of suitably soluble, conductive, and electrochemically stable compounds exist, initial work utilized copper sulfate pentahydrate. Here the sulfate anion was stable in the electrochemical potential window of interest and the cupric ion provided the target species for electrochemical reduction at the cathode. Water oxidation to generate oxygen was targeted at the anode as the complimentary oxidation reaction to the targeted reduction process.
Several supporting electrolytes were also added to better mimic the composition of acid mine drainage. Sulfuric acid was added to lower the solution pH while sodium sulfate was added to increase the sulfate concentration to levels typical of actual acid mine drainage. As the sulfate and sodium are inactive in the potential window of interest, they act simply as supporting electrolytes. Similarly, while protons can be reduced to hydrogen at the cathode, except under mass transfer limitations, cupric ion reduction will dominate and the dissolved protons will effectively serve as supporting electrolyte ions.
An embodiment of electrolytic cells in accordance with the present invention possessing cylindrical symmetry is shown in
In
It is frequently desirable, for an efficient and consistent function of an electrolytic cell, that anode 10 does not lose electrode material to the oxidation reaction on anode surfaces inseparable from the proper function of any electrolytic cell. Anodes which substantially preserve their original shape and relationship with the other components of electrolytic cells are known in the art to be geometrically stable.
Many geometrically stable anodes comprising platinized titanium, niobium coated copper, and oxide coated conductive substrate or combination of this and other refractory materials are known to the practitioners. The anodes can incorporate relatively smooth active surfaces, or porous surfaces that benefit from the additional surface area introduced by the added pores.
In addition, the anode materials comprising lead and lead alloys can be consider geometrically stabile over the electrochemical-process-relevant periods of time in spite the fact that the anode surfaces exhibit very gradual corrosion. The corrosion process of the lead comprising anode surfaces is especially slow and relatively uniform in processes related to electrochemical modifications of liquid streams containing the target materials at dilute concentrations. For the purpose of the present invention the anodes comprising lead and lead alloys are included in the set of geometrically stabile anodes.
Commercially available anodes like the Eltech Systems Corporation EC-600 dimensionally stable anode (DSA) comprised of tantalum doped iridium oxide coatings on titanium substrates and optimized for oxygen generation were successfully tested during the development of methods and apparatus of the present invention.
Separators 80 perform confinement of the cathode particulates to the cathode compartment and constrain of electrolyte flow through the cathode particulates bed. The separator 80 is in form of membrane, diaphragm, or other permeable mechanical barrier material that permits ionic conduction of current between the anode and the cathode. The preferred separator materials do not participate in electrochemical reactions of the cell, but the listed separator functions can be in principle performed by separators constructed from materials that support the ionic current conduction by ion-exchange reactions on the separator surfaces. The cells with particulates motion substantially independent of bulk electrolyte flow, utilizing ion-exchange separator membranes are recognized as specific embodiments of the current invention.
Separators 80 with surfaces that define planes are depicted in
The preferred cathode particulates conveyance system 100 that manipulates cathode particulates motion is a mechanical system in the general form of a screw type conveyor 500 (“Archimedes screw”) shown schematically in
A different embodiment of the cathode particulates conveyance system 100 is shown in cross-sections in
A different variation on the moving bucket type mechanical conveyer 600 is a moving belt 650 type conveyer where bucket 620 are omitted and the momentum is predominantly transferred to the cathode particulates by frictional forces between the belt 650 and the particulates.
In the embodiment when at least a fraction of the cathode particulates comprise at least a portion of their mass in the form of ferromagnetic material, significant interaction between the cathode particulates and the cathode particulates conveyance system 100 can be achieved when at least one permanent magnet is attached to the conveyer belt 650 in such manner that significant portion of the magnetic field penetrates the cathode chamber 60. In this embodiment, the particles guide 630 needs to be positioned in the proximity of the conveyer at a preferable clearance smaller than the particulates' diameter in order to achieve efficient separation of magnetized particulates from the proximal permanent magnet.
A variation of this embodiment where the conveyer belt material comprises permanently magnetized portions to produce the cathode chamber penetrating magnetic field is recognized to be in the scope of the present invention. It is also recognized that many mechanical and magnetic cathode particulates conveyance systems can operate with synergy. Combinations of mechanical cathode particulates conveyance subsystems and magnetic cathode particulates conveyance systems can be desirable to drive sufficient cathode particulates conveyance either in modular liquid streams modification operations or as parts and subsystems of integrated electrolytic cells.
A different embodiment utilizing magnetic interaction between the cathode particulates and the cathode particulates conveyance system uses traveling magnetic fields. Sources magnetic fields comprise coils with loops of electric conductors each arranged to generate magnetic fields symmetric with respect to prospective horizontal planes of symmetry when loops of electrical conductors are energized by at least one external source of electric current. This external source of electric current flowing through electromagnets' loops of electric conductors is generally independent and separate from the system for conducting unidirectional electric current supported by the liquid streams from the anode through the anolyte and the separator and into the catholyte and to the cathode particulates and to the current feeder device during the contact between the cathode particulates and the current feeder device.
A schematic rendering of the embodiment shown in
The cathode particulates are chosen to have at least partially conductive surfaces necessary to achieve at least intermittent contact between particulates and the current feeder device. When the traveling magnetic inductance 750 intersects the surfaces of the proximal cathode particulates it induces eddy currents in the particulates that interacts repulsively with the magnetic inductance 750. Consequently, an upward traveling pulse of the magnetic inductance 750 acts as a piston transferring generally upward momentum to the cathode particulates.
The cathode particulates support unidirectional electric current flowing through the electrolytic cell. Consequently, the cathode particulates must comprise electrically conductive or semiconductive materials consisting elements, metals, alloys, compounds, ceramics, organic polymers, and inorganic polymers or combinations thereof. The electrolytic cell in accordance with the present invention utilizes plurality of particulates interacting with exposed surfaces of the current feeder device 90. This allows for broad ranges of particulate sizes ranging generally from 0.1 mm to 10 mm of length in the characteristic dimension (possible characteristic dimensions include but are not limited to radius, diameter, ellipsoid axis, cylindrical radius and axis).
The resistivity of the current carrying component of particulates suitable for practical utility can range from about 1 nano ohm centimeters to about 20,000 nano ohm centimeters. The cathode particulates can comprise common metals such as copper, aluminum, lead, nickel, iron, mild steel, stainless steel, zinc, titanium, silver, gold, platinum, palladium, tin, tungsten, carbon, and its mixtures and combinations. Less common materials for the cathode particles such as conducting polymers, ceramics, semiconductors, and combinations of suitable substrate materials exhibiting appropriate conductivity would also work with the present invention.
Products of electrochemical reactions associated with the proper function of an electrolytic cell may accumulate in the cell and interfere with long term cell functionality. Also, products of electrochemical reactions may be of commercial interest as produced or represent raw materials for further processing. The controlled accumulation of products of electrochemical reactions can occur as an attachment and deposition on the cathode particulates, a sedimented material concentrated at lower parts of the cell chambers, or as incremental rise of concentration of materials dissolved in the electrolyte or the presence of suspended product particulates.
The separating pipeline 800 can be used to extract and separate sedimented products from the electrolyte and cathode particulates. The products of electrochemical reactions dissolved in the electrolyte can be removed using external pipeline 95 from the reservoir 97.
Processes of controlled removal of products of electrochemical reactions can be performed continuously during the operation of the electrolytic cell as customary in the art of electrochemical disinfection or pollution removal, or using batch process as customary in art of electrowinning of metals. Both modes of operation are in accordance with the present invention.
The direct current of constant intensity during the conduction like the current profile 900 graphed in
A brief overview of the proffered embodiment of the technology is included here. Over the course of relevant research a number of additional embodiments were conceived and explored. It is noted that this represents demonstration of technology function in the particular application and consequently is not optimal for many possible applications of the present invention.
A bench-scale version of the electrochemical apparatus was constructed and demonstrated. Here a simplified two-chamber cell is described although stacked cell operation works also. Mirror image anode and cathode cell bodies were constructed from polycarbonate sheets to which acrylic strips were welded to create the recesses of the cell chambers (Colorado Plastic Products Inc.). The cell chambers were sized to create an 8 inch by 10 inch active zone. The anode chamber active zone was ½ inch deep while the cathode chamber active zone was 1.5 inches deep and could contain about 2000 mL of cathode particles bed. When the anode and cathode cell bodies were clamped together while facing each other and sandwiching sealing foam strips and the separator membrane, a completed electrolytic cell was formed. Electrolyte inlet and outlet ports were created as needed and were liquid tight electrical feedthroughs using common polypropylene compression fittings (Cole Parmer). Two 4 inch×14 inch EC-600 (Eltech Systems Corporation) anodes were mounted side by side in the anode chamber to create the anode. Spacers were added on both anode sides to ensure free electrolyte access to the anode. The anodes extended out the top of the cell allowing simple dry clamp type electrical contacts to be utilized. Two 4 inch×10 inch×0.0625 inch 316 stainless steel plates (McMaster Carr) were mounted at the back of the cathode chamber to act as current distributors which define the active area of the cell. Two ¼ inch dia. 316 stainless steel rods were mounted to each plate and passed through liquid tight feedthroughs to provide external electrical contact points suitable for simple dry clamp type electrical contacts to be utilized. Cut 302/304 stainless steel wire (2 mm as cut, Pellets LLC) were used as the cathode particles bed. Standard 1 inch dia.×13 inch Wood augers (Hickory Tools, Home Depot) were mounted in the cathode chamber to effect cathode particles bed churning. The augers were coated with polyurethane to prevent corrosion in the synthetic acid mine drainage used for the electrowinning tests. Extenders were added to the augers so that they protruded out the top of the cell and gear and belt drive so that they could be easily rotated by a single external motor. A small variable speed DC gearmotor (2709K16, McMaster Carr) and a variable DC power supply (Extech 382213, Grainger) were used to rotate the augers and control the rotation speed (operated in controlled voltage mode at 24 volts). A microporous ultra high weight polyethylene membrane extending beyond the edges of the cell chambers (Gray Daramic—0.0097 inch thick, Polypore International Inc.) was used to separate of the anode and cathode chambers when they were clamped together. The edges of the anode and cathode chamber were lined with a continuous layer of ⅛ inch thick closed cell polyvinyl chloride foam (McMaster Carr) to create a gasket type seal when the cell bodies were clamped together.
The electrochemical cell was operated in a batch mode utilizing a recirculating system for the electrolytes. For this demonstrative work the electrolyte was shared so that both the anolyte and catholyte circulation were taken from and returned to the same single reservoir. A 10 L volume of the standard solution was utilized for the batch operation. The majority of the electrolyte was circulated through the cathode chamber using a larger peristaltic pump (Model 7533-80 with a 7036-30 pump head, Barnant). A small portion of the electrolyte leaked into the anolyte chamber and was recirculated using simple gravity feed. Similarly a portion of the electrolyte was circulated through a 1 cm path length flow-through spectroscopic cell using a small peristaltic pump (model 900-1445, Barnant) to allow near real-time monitoring of the solution copper concentration. Filtering was used to remove any powder product generated which would impair the spectroscopic measurement. The pumps were powered and their speed controlled using variable DC power supplies (Extech 382213, Grainger) operating in the controlled voltage mode at 24 volts unless otherwise noted. All electrolyte circulation plumbing was either silicone, neoprene, polypropylene, or PVC while reservoirs were Nalgene®—all of which are stable to the solution employed. The electrolyte temperature was measured using a Teflon coated thermocouple (CASS-18G-12-PFA, Omega) while the pH was measured using a gel filled double junction pH electrode (PHE-1411, Omega) and a signal pre-amp (PHTX-21, Omega). Selected operation and performance parameters were monitored and digitally recorded each 10 seconds on a laptop computer using a analog to digital conversion data acquisition unit with multiple channels (HP 34970A data acquisition unit with a 34901A multiplexer module) and appropriate software (HP 34970A Data Logger 3). The copper concentration within the electrolyte was measured spectroscopically at 840 nm using a Spectrophotometer 20+ (22348-108, VWR). The analog output of the spectrophotometer was recorded and converted to copper concentration using a calibration curve prepared using copper standards prepared with a 0.1 M sodium sulfate and 0.05 M sulfuric acid background. The electrolytic cell was energized with a high current variable DC power supply (Model XFR12-100, Xantrex) operated in the controlled current mode. The cell was operated at a current of 20 A.
The technology was successfully demonstrated for the improved electrowinning of copper from synthetic acid mine drainage. The synthetic acid mine drainage comprised an aqueous solution to which compounds were added to provide the proper pH, target electroactive species, and background ions to explore the chemistry of interest. Specifically the standard solution employed was prepared by adding 249.5 g of copper sulfate pentahydrate, 142.1 g of sodium sulfate, and 500 mL of 1.0 M sulfuric acid to 9.5 L of water. This generated a synthetic acid mine drainage solution containing roughly 2000 ppm of cupric ions, 0.182 M sulfate and 0.1 M sodium ions and provided 0.1 M of protons. Although the nominal pH of 0.1 M sulfuric acid is pH=1.0, buffering due to the excess sulfate in the solution yields a pH of ˜1.6.
A stock solution with initial concentration slightly lower than the desired 2000 ppm copper starting point, and roughly 6.5 L of electrolyte was used. The salient operating parameters are tabulated in Table 1 while the observed performance is summarized in
TABLE 1
Electrolytic Apparatus Operating Conditions
Parameter
Value(s)
Cell Power
Current: 20 Amp
Potential: 3.4-3.7 V
Catholyte Pump
Current: 1.3 Amp
Potential: 24 V
Auger Drive Unit
Current: 0.45 Amp
Potential: 24 V
Copper Monitor Pump
Current: 0.9 Amp
Potential: 7 V
Electrolyte Volume
6.5 L
Initial Copper Concentration
1609 ppm
Final Copper Concentration
38 ppm
Treatment Time
3600 sec
Electrolyte pH
Initial: 1.6
Final: 1.5
Electrolyte Temperature
Initial: 21° C.
Final: 25° C.
Stejic, George, James, Patrick I.
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